Picture Methods Team June 20, 2019 Gear

Olympus E-M1 Mark II Firmware v3.0 Brings New Features To An Old Camera

ts_olympus-firmware-updates-for-om-d-e-m1-mark-ii-and-e-m1x

Olympus has updated firmware in the OM-D E-M1 MK II and the OM-D E-M1 X, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS PRO Lens and the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 MK II digital camera is around three years old. Yet owners of that camera will be excited to learn that their old camera is almost like new with sweeping firmware changes that bring the MK II closer to the “X” in terms of autofocus performance and image quality.

Olympus says that With firmware v3.0, the E-M1 Mark II’s autofocus system uses the same algorithm as the E-M1X, “which was developed based on the shooting needs of the professional photographer.”

For the E-M1 Mark II, this update brings substantial improvements to autofocus. It also adds group 25-point to AF Target, C-AF Center Priority, and plenty of other modes for optimizing your settings perfectly for your subject. Autofocus can now work down to -6EV with an f/1.2 lens for low-light shooting. Also, operation is enhanced with a new ISO L100 setting and Detail Priority setting, an anti-flicker mode, OM-Log400, and tons more. The E-M1X doesn’t receive quite as much, but will support the latest features in Olympus Workspace after updating to Version 1.1.

The flagship OM-D E-M1X gets a boost up to Version 1.1 so that it will work with the new 2X teleconverter. Likewise, the 40-150 f/2.8 and 300 f/4 lenses. Also, the Olympus Workspace software is updated to add a few useful functions and features to your workflow.

You can get more information as well as the download files from the Olympus site.

NOTE: By way of disclosure, I am an Olympus Visionary.

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1

John Van't Land on June 23, 2019 at 2:02 pm
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I did the update today and it took me longer than it should have. I’m using an updated iMac and I followed all the instructions and tried to update my M1 MkII with 40-150 lens. I chose to update the camera first and it basically never happened. I tried twice, drained two batteries down to zero waiting to see the Okay. Finally I decided to try to update the lens first. That worked in a matter of a few minutes. Then I did the camera and it worked, too. Finally I hooked up the 300mm lens and it all updated the way it was meant to.

I wouldn’t say that the instructions are as complete as possible. When you launch the update and plug in and turn on your camera there are options on the back of the camera. The default is “Store”. I tried selecting it with my finger on the screen but that didn’t work. Finally selected it with the button (center select button on the dial) and then things got rolling. I had to go into Settings and Security and Privacy to grant permission for Olympus Corporation to have access to my computer, That took a little while to figure out, too.

Finally, when you’re connected to the computer with your USB-C cable, consider the two icons on the desktop marked “Untitled” (that come up when you connect) as representing your camera body and lens. Treat them the way you’d treat an external hard drive. Don’t just unplug the camera (“Your Disk Was Improperly Disconnected”) or turn off your computer (comparable to turning off your hard drive). Rather, do a right click and eject them. and then you can unplug the camera.

Hope this all helps.

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2

Seth Brandes on June 28, 2019 at 12:55 pm
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Hello Scott
I’ve followed you for awhile now as we are both users of Olympus Pro gear. Are you planning to update your EM1MkII settings recommendations for BIF, etc now that firmware 3.0 is out?

Thanks in advance,
Seth

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- 3
  
  Scott Bourne on June 28, 2019 at 2:19 pm
  Reply
  
  Hi Seth as far as I can see there’s no need to update the settings from the last firmware version – everything just works better!
  
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